Help available for seniors in choosing Medicare plans
Abed Arnam
Abed Arnam, the owner and pharmacist of The Medicine Shoppe at 57 Homestead Road North in the Lehigh Towne Center, says from talks with his many customers, it is confusing for seniors to choose just the right type of Medicare insurance plan for the coming year.
The window has opened this month for seniors to keep, make changes, or to choose another Medicare plan for the coming year. Such changes may be made up until Dec. 7.
“A lot of my customers aren’t sure which plan is the best for them and there are many factors to consider, including the medications that one is taking and how they the plan to be paid for, from zero cost plans, including HMOs and PPOs, to those that carry a cost and deductibles.
If you are a senior or a caregiver for a senior citizen over the age of 65, and are curious about your Medicare Part D options, Pharmacist Arnam has stepped up to the plate in a free offer to help local residents.
A computer for that purpose has been brought into his pharmacy and in a private site, seniors and/or caregivers can ask for advice and Arnam or a qualified member of his staff, will sit down with you and discuss your options, meaning what is the best plans to choose and their costs or no costs and the medications that are included and more.
But Arnam says they will not tell someone which plan to get.
“We will offer them at least three options after we have obtained information from them. These options, in our opinion, will be the best choices for them to choose from,” Arnam says.
Information about the so-called doughnut hole for seniors will be explained. After a certain amount of costs for out-of-pocket charges along with an insurance carrier, including government Medicare have been reached, the senior citizen’s cost of certain drugs increases in cost percentage points. Tiers used by the insurance companies for the cost of drugs will also be explained.
This year, thanks to Obamacare, that donut hole is beginning to close more and will close completely in a few years.
Those who want information can ask it at the pharmacy and answers will be provided.
“I think what we are doing is an important thing for the seniors in our community that need information to make a decision as to which plan may be best for them,” Arnam says. “It can be very confusing.”
“We do not ask anything about a person’s income. We ask about the needs of the person and what may be the best plans to choose from,” he said.
The information is provided in an area away from the front register where drugs are dispensed and costs are collected.
Once a senior citizen decides on which plan he or she chooses, they will be directed how to contact the insurance carrier’s location or site on the Internet.
Many insurance companies are advertising on both TV and print to attract seniors to their plan. But just picking a plan without knowledge of what the person needs may not be wise.
Arnam says many seniors may want to change their carrier coverage
providers, while others may decide to stay with the one they have this
year.
But Arnam cautions that the window to make a change will close in early December and changes made after that are not usually possible.
“This is a free public service we are offering to the community. We hope those involved with a need for insurance coverage will take advantage of our offer. It is for both our customers and others in the community who need knowledge of what is out there to choose from and it is best now to make the proper decision,” he said.
Be sure to bring your medications with you or a list of the medications and the dosages.
The Medicine Shoppe pharmacy is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can call 239-369-0141 to make an appointment or you can just walk in and get the free help.
The Medicine Shoppe offers a 15-minute prescription service with a 100 percent on pharmacy focus. There is also a drive-up window to pick up prescriptions or to leave prescriptions or to get refills.
“If those coming in have questions, we will find the answers and we promise to make three recommendations so the client can choose one. We do not tell them which one they should get,” Arnam said.
The service begins this week at the store in the Lehigh Towne Center on the corner of Alabama and Homestead roads.
Help available for seniors in choosing Medicare plans
Abed Arnam
Abed Arnam, the owner and pharmacist of The Medicine Shoppe at 57 Homestead Road North in the Lehigh Towne Center, says from talks with his many customers, it is confusing for seniors to choose just the right type of Medicare insurance plan for the coming year.
The window has opened this month for seniors to keep, make changes, or to choose another Medicare plan for the coming year. Such changes may be made up until Dec. 7.
“A lot of my customers aren’t sure which plan is the best for them and there are many factors to consider, including the medications that one is taking and how they the plan to be paid for, from zero cost plans, including HMOs and PPOs, to those that carry a cost and deductibles.
If you are a senior or a caregiver for a senior citizen over the age of 65, and are curious about your Medicare Part D options, Pharmacist Arnam has stepped up to the plate in a free offer to help local residents.
A computer for that purpose has been brought into his pharmacy and in a private site, seniors and/or caregivers can ask for advice and Arnam or a qualified member of his staff, will sit down with you and discuss your options, meaning what is the best plans to choose and their costs or no costs and the medications that are included and more.
But Arnam says they will not tell someone which plan to get.
“We will offer them at least three options after we have obtained information from them. These options, in our opinion, will be the best choices for them to choose from,” Arnam says.
Information about the so-called doughnut hole for seniors will be explained. After a certain amount of costs for out-of-pocket charges along with an insurance carrier, including government Medicare have been reached, the senior citizen’s cost of certain drugs increases in cost percentage points. Tiers used by the insurance companies for the cost of drugs will also be explained.
This year, thanks to Obamacare, that donut hole is beginning to close more and will close completely in a few years.
Those who want information can ask it at the pharmacy and answers will be provided.
“I think what we are doing is an important thing for the seniors in our community that need information to make a decision as to which plan may be best for them,” Arnam says. “It can be very confusing.”
“We do not ask anything about a person’s income. We ask about the needs of the person and what may be the best plans to choose from,” he said.
The information is provided in an area away from the front register where drugs are dispensed and costs are collected.
Once a senior citizen decides on which plan he or she chooses, they will be directed how to contact the insurance carrier’s location or site on the Internet.
Many insurance companies are advertising on both TV and print to attract seniors to their plan. But just picking a plan without knowledge of what the person needs may not be wise.
Arnam says many seniors may want to change their carrier coverage
providers, while others may decide to stay with the one they have this
year.
But Arnam cautions that the window to make a change will close in early December and changes made after that are not usually possible.
“This is a free public service we are offering to the community. We hope those involved with a need for insurance coverage will take advantage of our offer. It is for both our customers and others in the community who need knowledge of what is out there to choose from and it is best now to make the proper decision,” he said.
Be sure to bring your medications with you or a list of the medications and the dosages.
The Medicine Shoppe pharmacy is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can call 239-369-0141 to make an appointment or you can just walk in and get the free help.
The Medicine Shoppe offers a 15-minute prescription service with a 100 percent on pharmacy focus. There is also a drive-up window to pick up prescriptions or to leave prescriptions or to get refills.
“If those coming in have questions, we will find the answers and we promise to make three recommendations so the client can choose one. We do not tell them which one they should get,” Arnam said.
The service begins this week at the store in the Lehigh Towne Center on the corner of Alabama and Homestead roads.
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